"M-M-Mizuki…you can speak Elvish!?" (Ilina)
I smirk at her and shrug. She looks shaken, and turns back to Alto with a questioning glance, like 'is all that true?'. Alto nods in response. I take the opportunity to interject.
"You know, Ilina, if you'd merely asked, I could have prepared a space for you to talk to Alto without me overhearing. I'm not so naïve as to think that you didn't want to privately question her about me." (Mizuki)
Ilina looks confused as well as embarrassed, but before her or I can comment further, Alto interjects.
"Pardon me, Princess, but I don't want to answer any questions about Mizuki, and I certainly don't want to talk about him behind his back. This is my wish, not a request from him. Despite how suspicious of him us elves have been, he's been nothing but incredibly kind in return. He's also prioritized honesty with me, so I have no desire to hide anything from him if he's implicated." (Alto)
Ilina and I both exchange shocked glances.
"Well…uhm…thanks, Alto. I hope you know that I meant what I said, though. You owe me absolutely nothing, and I prefer it that way. If you wanted to answer anything and everything that Ilina asked about me, I won't be upset with you or consider it a betrayal." (Mizuki)
Ilina seems surprised that I feel this way, but Klaus just smirks like he was pleasantly proven correct. Alto smiles like she's trying not to laugh at me again, then shakes her head.
"No, Mizuki, you don't have to worry. I believe everything you just said. I didn't make that statement out of obligation. It's just the way I feel." (Alto)
I can't hide the grin on my face as I respond to Alto, and I also can't pass up the opportunity to make fun of Ilina.
"Alto, I'm very honored, and I'm glad to hear that you trust me at least that much. Can I assume this means that I have a new friend? I'd like to know another elf that's nicer to me than Ilina. Don't worry, it's a very low bar, so there's no pressure." (Mizuki)
Now Alto chuckles, and nods when addressing me.
"Fufu…yes, I think that would be okay. Just don't tell any other elves that I'm friends with a human, they might get the wrong idea about me." (Alto)
Is she giving me shit? Yeah, I've decided – Alto's cool. Before I can respond to her jab, however, Ilina blurts out as though offended.
"Mizuki, what are you talking about!? I'm nice to you!" (Ilina)
I suppress the urge to laugh…she actually looks worried. I can't let her off the hook this easy, though.
"I don't know, just now you said the meanest things about me while I was standing right here. Also, you were so prickly towards me as soon as we first met. Klaus, do you remember when she called me a pervert and implied that I was a sex slaver?" (Mizuki)
Alto's eyes go wide at the allegedly foul language from her princess, and Ilina's only getting more flustered. Before she can defend herself, Klaus, who seems to be thoroughly enjoying the situation, responds. He shakes his head as though truly appalled at how Ilina acted.
"Oh, yes, she was so terrible to poor Mizuki. Called him a pervert, a slaver, and even told me to kill him once! Truly, she was ruthless." (Klaus)
Ilina is practically squealing with frustration at this point, and her face is completely red. Klaus is laughing so hard he can barely see straight, and Alto is just looking at me with pity. Damn, Klaus, kind of ironic to call Ilina ruthless.
I can't help but chuckle internally at the whole sight. Ilina is not pleased.
"That's so unfair and you both know it! That's all out of context! Also, Klaus, what are you doing you traitor, you're supposed to be on my side! Mizuki…you don't really feel that way about me, do you?" (Ilina)
As she says the last part, her voice lowers, and she looks at me like she's genuinely concerned. Well, now I feel bad.
The truth is that I don't feel that way, anymore at least. Aside from being suspicious of me constantly, she's been nice lately…cooperative, even. It's probably about time that we built some trust.
I sigh deeply with my eyes closed, then open them and smile at Ilina. Some of her concern is replaced with confusion, and she looks at me expectantly.
"No, Ilina, I don't. I'm just joking with you. We would be friends if I had my way." (Mizuki)
Ilina seems surprised by my answer, then she looks at me with a serious expression. After a moment, she speaks.
"Honestly, I don't think you trust me enough for us to be friends." (Ilina)
She eyes me carefully as she responds, like she's skeptical, but also really wants to have an honest discussion. I hold her gaze and respond evenly.
"I think it's fair of you to say I don't trust you that much. It's not that I think you're untrustworthy, just that there are unknowns about you that make me wary. Despite that, I'm confident that you'd never intentionally harm me without provocation. That's exactly how you feel about me, right?" (Mizuki)
Ilina's face stiffens a little bit, and she wears a conflicted expression. If I had to guess, she's frustrated by our dynamic, and wants to fix the hesitant way we interact with one another.
"If you're frustrated by that, I might be able to help. We're both distrustful because we're keeping too many secrets to understand one another well. Similarly, we are unwilling to share our secrets because we don't trust each other. So, the only way I see forward is sharing enough about ourselves to build some trust." (Mizuki)
Ilina nods solemnly, expressing her frustrated agreement. Okay, guess it's on me if I want this to change then.
"In that case, I'll be the one to trust you first. If you join me alone on the couch for a chat, I'll put up a privacy barrier to block sound. Then I will answer every single question you ask me. No lies, no half-truths, no schemes, no ulterior motives, and no question dodging." (Mizuki)
Ilina's face is in complete disarray at the offer – to call it shock wouldn't do her reaction justice. Similarly, Klaus is thoroughly surprised, and Alto looks more amused and curios than anything. Honestly, the more I hang around Alto, the more I like her.
After a minute, Ilina seems to come to a decision. She gulps and nods towards me. Her expression seems equal parts curiosity and fear, like someone afraid of what they might learn. Then, she responds.
"Yes, I'd appreciate that." (Ilina)